Giants boss calls for reinstatement of “six-figure” ambassador payments for expansion clubs

GREATER Western Sydney has called for the reinstatement of “six-figure” ambassador payments in footy’s struggling expansion states — but Pies boss Eddie McGuire says “no way”.

Victorian clubs are trying to lure Tom Lynch home. Pic: AAP

GREATER Western Sydney has called for the reinstatement of “six-figure” ambassador payments in footy’s struggling expansion states.

Giants boss Dave Matthews said it would make “complete sense” for the AFL to pay Gold Coast free agent Tom Lynch “significant” promotional money outside the salary cap.

“A player like Lynch will make decisions for personal reasons but nobody should shy away from the fact that a player of that quality and profile should be entitled to a significant ambassador’s payment,” Matthews said.

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“I don’t see it as retention money — I see it as an absolutely appropriate investment from the AFL into places where we are so far behind our competitors.

“I see what Lance Franklin has done for the game up here — he’s a bona fide star in Sydney — and I see the potential in people like Jeremy Cameron and Josh Kelly.

“It’s very, very important that some of the stars of the AFL competition are recognised and promoted in NSW and Queensland.

Everyone in Sydney knows this guy, right? Picture. Phil Hillyard

“We’ve got to be mature and unashamed about it. There shouldn’t be any controversy about those payments — they are absolutely appropriate in the pursuit and implementation of the strategy that we’ve got: to become the national game.

“There’s absolutely no point having two expansion clubs that end up being nurseries for Victorian clubs, drafting young talent, investing in them for two, three, four or more years just for Victorian clubs to pick them off through big offers or free agency.”

The AFL has indicated Lynch will able to access as little as $50,000 in ambassador money if he chooses to stay at the Suns.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who campaigned to remove the Brisbane Lions’ contentious $400,000 player retention allowance, yesterday declared he would not support increased ambassador payments.

“The AFL can’t distort the salary cap. Full stop,” McGuire said.

“They (Gold Coast) may have to look at an alternative strategy. That’s what the caper is all about.”

Tom Lynch is a free agent and could return to Victoria. Pic: AAP

GWS boss Dave Kelly says it’s crucial the game’s best players, like Giant Josh Kelly, “are recognised and promoted in NSW and Queensland.” Pic: Getty Images

But Matthews said the salary cap — $12.6m this season, plus about $1m in additional services allowances — did not adequately protect Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Giants from Victorian raiders.

“The salary cap is not even — just because the dollar figure is the same doesn’t mean the purchasing power is the same,” Matthews said.

“North of the Murray, we tend to be required to pay more to hold and retain those players than what Victorian clubs do.

“The reason you need ambassador payments over and above standard playing contracts, in NSW and Queensland in particular, is just the sheer volume of promotional work that is required.

“You have 450 players running around Melbourne doing school visits, doing media appearances and going on TV shows because that’s where they are filmed. And that’s in a market we’ve already captured.

GWS CEO David Matthews. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Magpies president Eddie McGuire says the league must not “distort” the salary cap. Pic: Getty Images

“We have 45 players in western Sydney trying to win the hearts and minds, Gold Coast have 45 to try to win a share in their market. Four clubs trying to win a share of 53 per cent of Australia where our game is not first choice.

“Players are our best assets — it makes sense to invest in them.”

Richmond, Hawthorn and Collingwood are leading the race to lure Lynch, 25, home from the Gold Coast.

“Absolutely it’s in the game’s interests that he sees every reason to stay at that club,” Matthews said.

“We’ve just got to grow up and be mature about it. If there is an opportunity for him to earn beyond his base playing contract because he’s such an asset for the game to be in that market, then we shouldn’t shy away from that.

“But it’s got to be commercial, it’s got to be valued appropriately, and it’s got to be transparent and commensurate with the requirements in NSW and Queensland to elevate the profile of the game.”

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